390 tonne milestone – All in a days work for Stadium construction team

The main roof truss of the Forsyth Barr Stadium, weighing approximately 390 tonnes and 130 metres in length, was successfully lifted into place last night marking a significant milestone in the construction timeline.

The lift represents a critical stage in the development and is one of the biggest ever in New Zealand with a weight equivalent of three and a half Boeing 787-9s. It took over 6 hours and involved one 400 tonne crane, two 280 tonne cranes and approximately 35 men.

The truss was assembled on the pitch over the last week and then, only after several structural and alignment checks and in perfect weather conditions, the truss was positioned 35 metres above the ground. The roof truss is part of the main South Stand and will anchor the five arch trusses which will span 105m over the pitch to the North Stand.

Malcolm Farry, Chairman of the Carisbrook Stadium Charitable Trust, was delighted with this most recent construction highlight.

“Manoeuvring this gigantic truss into place 35m above the ground is no mean feat and marks a significant milestone in the construction. A lot of preparation and patience have gone into making today successful and moving us a step closer to completion of Otago’s world class, multipurpose Stadium.

“We’re now nearly half way through the construction process and the Stadium is really taking shape. Over the next few months we’ll start to see the complete roof structure come together, then the ETFE roofing and the pitch preparation will begin early next year. The construction team are doing a fantastic job, keeping the project on time and on budget.”